Firstly, they are often hostages of a patriarchal system based on domination and gender discrimination. Second, such situation of discrimination is exacerbated by the presence of the armed conflict where the sexual violence against women can be used as a weapon of war. All state and non-state armed actors, in several contexts, engage in sexual violence against women and that it is ‘a habitual, extensive, systematic and invisible practice’.

Sexual violence is extensively used also to exercise social and territorial control over the communities. Afro-descendent and indigenous populations have been subjected to a history of discrimination, exclusion, invisibility and disadvantage of social, economic and geographic nature. In fact, in addition to all these factors which impact on all women, they have to deal with an historical reality linked to slavery, racial discrimination and years of accepted violence against them.

The lack of an effective and efficient system in the administration of justice for protection of the women rights worsens the discrimination condition based on gender and the risks of a re-victimisation. In addition, the situation of discrimination and inequality produce unavoidable effects on the job opportunities.

HOPE aims to contribute to women’s empowerment and their sustainable economic development, through tailored solutions that improve the fulfilment of their human rights and increase their resilience.

Mine action

Antipersonnel landmines are explosive devices designed to injure or kill people, and their deadly effect does not end with the conflicts. Even decades after the signature of the peace, they can lie under, or near the ground until a person or animal triggers their detonating mechanism. As of November 2018, 56 states and four other areas have an identified threat of antipersonnel mine contamination. There is no credible estimate of the total number of mines in the ground worldwide, however the impact of mines can be measured in several ways, including totalling the amount of land that is unusable due to contamination or gathering data about the number of people killed or injured by mines.

Mine action is the humanitarian domain which aims to reduce the social, economic and environmental impact of landmines and other explosive remnants of war (ERW). Mine action deals with the many effects of landmine and ERW contamination on people and societies.

HOPE aims to contribute to the five pillars of Mine Action (Clearance, Mine Risk Education, Advocacy, Victim Assistance and Stockpile Destruction) by providing capacity building, technical assistance, humanitarian demining capacity and social development support to affected communities.

Comprehensive support to indigenous populations

There are an estimated 370-500 million
indigenous people in the world, spread across 90 countries. They live in all
geographic regions and represent 5,000 different cultures. Indigenous peoples
are inheritors and practitioners of unique cultures and ways of relating to
others, and to the environment.

However, they are more likely to be poor
and vulnerable. While making up less than five percent of the world’s
population, indigenous people account for 15 percent of the poorest. They’re
more likely to suffer from malnutrition, and often lack adequate social
protection and economic resources.

This results on a life expectancy
that is as much as 20 years lower than that of their non-indigenous
counterparts. Often lacking adequate healthcare and information, they are more
likely to get diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, HIV and AIDS.

In addition, Indigenous people worldwide face
various forms of suppression and rights violations that can often be directly
or indirectly attributed to the legacies of colonialism. In this context
Indigenous women are more likely to suffer discrimination and violence.
No development objectives can sustainably be met
when profound inequalities persist worldwide, including those that exist
between indigenous and non-indigenous people.

HOPE aims to contribute to the fulfilment of indigenous’ human rights, by providing a comprehensive support according to their specific needs.